“If you take the time to immerse yourself in art, the possibilities are endless.”
POV provides AMA friends and fans the opportunity to share their knowledge and point of views about art. This POV was submitted by guest contributor Nathan Boschult from Texas Real Estate Source. Photo of the immersive exhibition Leonardo da Vinci: 500 Years of Genius.
The Evolution of Visual Art: A Mirror for Society
Visual art has not only existed since the beginning of human history—it has become a primary record of human history. Furthermore, with the benefit of hindsight, things that weren’t considered art at the time of their creation can eventually be celebrated as examples of groundbreaking visual art. From cave drawings and tablets with the ancient cuneiform script to non-fungible tokens and immersive art, every genre of visual art holds a metaphorical mirror to society that can provide us with insights and analyses we may not otherwise have come to.
If you take the time to immerse yourself in art, the possibilities are endless.
Art Explains Society
The profound insights derived from the art and artistic movements of the past are, again, only made possible with the help of hindsight. Those insights on past artwork also help to empower artists to try new things—the street art in LA’s Valley Glen neighborhood, for instance, wouldn’t have been allowed a century ago, let alone be accepted as part of the public art landscape.
By drawing connections between the visual art of a time and the world events and societal upheavals going on during that same time, we can see the interplay between art and society and perhaps even draw conclusions about current movements and world events.
Romanticism (1800–1850)
At the start of the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution was in full swing and drawing people from the countryside to cities in droves; at the same time, the rationalism of the Enlightenment was prevalent among leaders and intellectuals alike. The art world’s reaction to this time period was the emerging Romantic movement, which pushed back with a focus on emotion and individualism and expressed a desire to escape the constraints of the then-modern society.
Romanticism was nothing short of trouble for many industrialists and thinkers at the time. Artists expressed a growing distrust of governmental and economic forces and encouraged a return to nature and individualism.
Realism (1840–Late 1800s)
The next evolution of visual art is encapsulated by the Realist movement, and in many ways, it was a reaction and opposing force to Romanticism. Realism rejected the overly emotional and dramatic nature of the Romantics, instead focusing on truth and accurate portrayals of individuals and society.
Realists were still pushing back against industrialism and commercialism—they were just doing it by portraying what life was really like for the poor, the downtrodden, and the newly urbanized majority.
20th Century Movements
Throughout the 20th century, artistic movements continued to reflect the spirit and individuality of those who were creating their art. Abstract art focused on form rather than representation, meaning things like color and shape were the focus rather than people or objects.
Today, this is often interpreted as an attempt to express both a breaking free from societal norms and a reflection of the increasingly abstract nature of human relations. Furthermore, it’s an example of the continued expansion of artistic freedom. No longer reliant on commissions by the church and the ruling class, artists could follow their hearts and their instincts.
The Pop Art movement began in the 1960s, and it’s arguably the least subtle of the movements in terms of its meaning and inspiration. Capitalism reigned supreme, and consumer culture had reached a pinnacle; the visual artists leaned heavily on humor and irony as a means of providing commentary on our collective reliance upon things: products, gadgets, appliances, and more.
Pop Artists took the world by storm, but the so-called establishment pushed back. The visual art from this school was grouped together with the anti-Vietnam War movement and what some deemed to be explicit rock music, all of which were viewed as a collective threat to societal norms.
The Digital Canvas
The advent of the internet and the spread of digital technology have unlocked artistic possibilities that the painters and sculptors of previous movements couldn’t have imagined. The delineation between fine art and design has blurred to the point of virtual nonexistence, and because of that, designers are attempting art while artists are designing.
With the internet and social media pervading every corner of the globe, there are no longer any true barriers preventing great art from reaching an audience; in fact, it’s never been easier to attract eyes to one’s work.
An up-and-coming artist can choose from countless artistic mediums, and if they produce quality art that people want to see, there’s no limit to the exposure and impact that their work will have.
What Does Today’s Art Tell Us?
The 21st century has been defined by technological and societal advancement. The emergence of immersive and interactive art can be viewed as an invitation extended by artists to the rest of us to come and participate in visual art—even if we don’t have any artistic ability. Keeping people engaged is harder than ever before, thanks to the endless entertainment options at our collective fingertips. These artists have seemingly discovered that participation is the best way to achieve the desired engagement.
Inclusion and acceptance have never before been as valued and protected as they are today, and an artist’s immersive or interactive art display is typically meant to be all-inclusive and able to be enjoyed by all. Technology enables much of the interactive and immersive art today, as it should: one can’t tell the story of 21st-century society without considerable time spent on technology.
Is That Art?
Technology and art have long been intertwined, and the pinnacle of that relationship is also one of the more controversial current art forms: non-fungible tokens (NFTs) linked to digital art. By purchasing an NFT linked to a digital artwork, an individual can own a completely unique piece of art that can’t (in theory) be owned by anyone else. While many in the art world are pushing back against this art form, others can’t help but draw parallels to the artistic movements of the last few centuries and the early disparaging of them by “the establishment.”
Art, much like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. More often than not, hindsight is necessary to enable the eye to see clearly and with perspective, but if society is able to keep that in mind, it could pay dividends by expediting the acceptance of new art forms.
